Multi-packaging device



2, 1968 w. D. STOCKDALE 3,

MULTI -PACKAGING DEVICE Filed March 9, 1967 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.William 0 S/oc/rda/e His A):

July 2, 1968 w. D.-$TOCKDALE MULTI-PACKAGING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed March 9, 1967 y IIII///I//////////// INVENTOR. William 0..Sfac/rda/e United States Patent O 3,390,766 MULTI-PACKAGING DEVICEWilliam D. Stockdale, Arlington Heights, 111., assignor to Illinois ToolWorks Inc., Chicago, 11]., a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 9, 1967,Ser. No. 621,864 7 Claims. (Cl. 20665) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Apackage for storing and transporting individual container units having atray section which receives and supports the container units and/or acover section for assembly thereto in a separable manner which protectsthe top of the container units until the cover section and tray sectionare separated from each other.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the invention The presentinvention relates to the packaging of a plurality of individual singleservice container unit-s, commonly referred to as portion packages, insuch a manner that the container units can be stored and transported ina tray and/or cover section which is highly protective relative to thecontainer units from the standpoint of damage or inadvertent removalrelative to the tray and/ or cover section, and yet does not interfereor otherwise make difiicult the removal of the individual containerunits from the tray and/or cover section. In removing individualcontainer units from the tray section, it is important that theindividual container units are not unnecessarily exposed tocontamination, particularly where dairy products are involved. While thetray section may be used independently of the cover section, they aredesigned, when used together, to be separably united to each other byintegral fastening means associated with one or both of the sections.

(2) Description of the prior art There are a number of prior artreferences which show various types of portion packaging techniques;however, none of them have provided a tray section and/or cover sectionwhich serves to protect the containers and prevent their inadvertentremoval while carried or when resting on a supporting surface, and atthe same time permitting removability of the container units from thetray section when desired. A's typical examples of prior art techniquesin this regard, reference is made to US. Patent Nos. 1,812,311,2,784,539 and 3,054,679, each of which show various forms of traysections for use with individual container units.

Retention of the cover section to the tray section while affording easyseparation of these two parts is another aspect which has been dealtwith generally by the prior art, US. Patent No. 2,970,735 being typicalin this regard. The prior art has not, however, taught the use ofeffective, yet easily separable integral locking means in a tray andcover section package, and this is another aspect with which the presentinvention is concerned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention toprovide an improved tray section for storing and transporting individualcontainer units in such a manner that the container units may be easilyremoved from the tray section when desired while at the same timepreventing inadvertent removal of the containers from the tray section.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a coversection for the tray section which protects 3,39%,756 Patented July 2,1968 the tops of the container units while retained within the traysection.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a tray and/0rcover section for the multi-packaging individual container units, one orboth of the tray and cover sections including complementary fasteningmeans which retains the parts against inadvertent disassembly while alsofacilitating the separability of the tray and cover section from eachother.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention areattained by the provision of a package which stores and transportsindividual container units including a tray section and/or coversection, the tray section having a top wall which is adapted to receiveand mount a plurality of container units with respect thereto and aplurality of side walls depending therefrom, at least some of the sidewalls of the tray section having an axial height smaller than thecontainer units, but of sufficient dimension to support the top wall ofthe tray section a predetermined distance above a supporting surfacewhen the container units are resting thereupon to prevent accidentallateral dislodgement of the container units from the tray section whilefacilitating manual removal of the container units therefrom. When thepackage is provided with a cover section, the tray section is configuredto provide at least two opposing side walls which have an axial heightsmaller than other side Walls of the tray section which supports the topwall thereof a predetermined distance above a supporting surface, andthe cover section includes depending sides at least two of which arecapable of being aligned with the smaller side walls of the tray sectionsuch that one or both of the tray and/ or cover section are providedwith complementary locking means which are associated with the smallerside walls of the tray section to permit retention of the cover sectionto the tray section while facilitating separation of the tray and coversections from each other when the tray section is resting upon asupporting surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspectiveview showing the tray and cover section package having a plurality ofcontainer units associated therewith, and being constructed inaccordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 2 i s an exploded perspective view showing the tray and coversection vertically separated from each other and with one of thecontainer units removed from the tray section;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view showing the manner in which the traysection rests upon a supporting surface so as to prevent accidentallateral dislodgernent of the individual container units from the traysection;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of the tray section showing themanner in which the plurality of container units are mounted orassociated therewith;

FIG. 5 is an end elevational view of the package shown in FIG. 1, andparticularly showing the manner in which the integral fastening means ofthe illustrated embodirnent functions to hold the tray and coversections to each other; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the package shown inFIG. 5 as viewed along lines 66 thereof which depicts the lockingtechnique employed with the fastening means of the illustratedembodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The package 10 of the presentinvention generally comprises a tray section 12 which is adapted toreceive and mount a plurality of individual container units 14 therein,and a cover section 16 which is adapted to be separably united to thetray section 12 as will be more fully described hereinafter. Preferably,the tray and cover section .12, 16 respectively are made from paperboardor cardboard blanks and are scored, bent and adhered to various portionsthereof as will be understood from the description that is to follow.

Each of the individual container units 14 may comprise a thin wallthermoplastic container body 18 with a flexible lid element 20 securedthereto. As shown in the drawings, each container body 18 generally hasan octagonal configuration with each of the sides of the octagonextending upwardly and outwardly from a planar bottom wall, the upperend of the container body terminating in an octagonally configured,radially outwardly directed flange portion to which the film element ofmembrane 20 is heat sealed. A detailed description of this preferredtype of container unit 14 is set forth in my copend'ing application,Ser. No. 681,625, filed Nov. 9, 1967. It will be understood, however,that insofar as the present invention is concerned, each of thecontainer units may be made from any material, configured of any shapeand made from one or more parts as may be desired. The invention will bedescribed specifically in connection with the container units 14illustrated in the drawings, it being recognized that other types ofcontainers may be used to fit the particular purpose desired.

The tray section 12, as best seen in the exploded FIG. 2 view, has agenerally rectangular shape including a top wall 22 and opposed pairs ofside walls 24, 26 respectively depending therefrom. The top wall 22includes a plurality of adjacently positioned apertures or openings 28which are generally configured to the exterior shape of the containerunits 14. In the illustrated embodiment, the container units 14generally have an octagonal configuration, and thus the apertures 28also assume an octagonal shape. Whatever the shape of the openings orapertures 28, it is preferable that the peripheral or circumferentialextent thereof be slightly larger than the exterior configuration of thecontainer units adapted to be mounted therein so that the containerunits can be freely and easily positioned within and removed from theopening 28. There must be, however, some means for supporting theindividual container units 14 relative to the top wall 22 of the traysection, and this can be easily accomplished by assuring that someportion of the container unit has a transverse measurement greater thanthe largest transverse dimension of the aperture with which it is to beassociated. In the illustrated embodiment, the radially outwardlydirected octagonally shaped rim portion of the container body 18 isdesigned to provide a greater transverse measurement than that of theaperture 28 with which it is to be associated to permit the marginalportions of the top wall 22 surrounding a particular aperture 28 tosupport a container unit 14 in a stable position. In this manner, aplurality of container units 14- can be positioned within aperture 28formed in the top wall 22 of the tray section 12 to facilitate handlingthereof. The number of apertures or openings 28 formed in the top wall22 of the tray section 12 for receiving corresponding numbers ofcontainer units 14 may be varied to suit the requirements of aparticular customer.

While the polygonally shaped tray section 12 may be provided with anynumber of depending side walls, it is preferably arranged to include atleast two opposing pairs of side walls such as the side walls 24 and 26-respectively. It will be noted that the pair of opposing side walls 24are substantially longer than the opposing pair of side walls 26, butare smaller than the axial height of the container units when restingupon a supporting surface as shown in FIGS. 23 of the drawings.Specifically, the opposing pair of side walls 24, while having an axialheight smaller than the container units 14, are of sufficient dimensionto support the top wall 22 of the tray section 12 a predetermineddistance above a supporting surface when the container units are restingthereupon to prevent accidental lateral dislodgement of the containerunits from the tray section while at the same time facilitating manualremoval of the containers therefrom by permitting a user to easily graspthe top portion of each of the container units. This is clearlyillustrated in FIG. 3 of the drawings wherein the outwardly directed rimportion as well as a part of the upper portion of the container body 18is positioned above the top wall 22 of the tray section 12 when thebottom wall of each of the container units are resting upon a supportingsurface as illustrated.

When the container units 14 are positioned within the tray section 12,they will be arranged in the manner illustrated in FIG. 4 of thedrawings. Specifically, it will be noted that the thin and flexible filmor membrane element 20 has portions thereof which extend beyond the rimportion of the container body 18. In the illustrated embodiment the filmelement or membrane 20 has a square shape wherein the maximum distanceor dimension between two opposed sides thereof are generally equal tothe maximum dimension between two opposed.

sides of the octagonally shaped rim portion such that when the filmelement or membrane 20 is attached to the container body 18 in themanner shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings, there will be four portionswhich project beyond the outer confines of the container rim portion. Itwill also be noted that the arrangement of the projecting film elementor membrane portions are such that they are arranged in generallyopposed pairs, and this will permit a user to engage and deflectgenerally opposed portions of the film element or membrane 20 inremoving the individual container units '14 from the tray section 12without contaminating any of the pouring surfaces of the containerunits. Thus, in addition to supporting the containers in a fixedposition on a supporting surface while permitting easy removal thereofwhen desired, the container units are designed to permit removal thereofwithout in any way contaminating the pouring surfaces of the containerunits.

While there may be instances which require the use of a tray section 12only, it is preferable to employ a cover section 16 of the typeillustrated in the drawings to provide maximum protection for thecontainer units during normal storing and handling operations. Thecontainer units 14 when received within the apertures 28 of the traysection 12 will be held against downward and lateral movement, but thereis nothing to restrain the container from upward movement relative tothe top' wall 22 of the tray section 12.

The section 16 is complementary in shape to the tray section 12 andincludes a covering wall 30 which overlies the top wall 22 of the traysection to protect the top of the container units 14 mounted therein aswell as depending sides which are also in the form of opposed pairs ofsides 32, 34 respectively as is the case with the depending side walls24, 26 respectively of the tray section 12. The cover section 16 isarranged relative to the tray section 12 such that the opposing sides 34of the cover section are capable of being aligned with the smaller sidewalls of the tray section when the tray section and cover section areassembled to each other. Each of the sides 34 are provided with integrallocking means 36 which are engageable with the smaller side walls 26 ofthe tray section 12 to permit the tray and cover sections 12, 16 to bereleasably or separably united to one another.

Each of the integral locking means 36 associated with one of the sides34 comprises, as best seen in FIGS. 1-2

and 56, a pair of deflectable tab elements 38, 38 arranged inside-by-side relationship to one another. Each of the defiectable tabelements 38 includes a cam surface or portion 40 at the uppermostextremity thereof which is capable of being moved to a locking positionbeneath the smaller side wall 26 of the tray section 12 with which it isto be associated.

This arrangement of parts is best illustrated in FIGS. 5-6 of thedrawings wherein the cam portion 40 of the deflectable tab elements 38are shown as being positioned in locking engagement with the smallerside walls 26 of the tray section 12. The cam portion 40 of eachdeflectable tab element 38 engages the smaller side wall 26 with whichit is associated in such a manner that a covering wall 16 is positionedin close fitting relationship relative to the rim portion of eachcontainer unit 14 and the film element or membrane 20gsecured thereto toafford protection to the thin and flexible elements or membranes 20during normal storage and handling conditions.

It will be understood that while the illustrated embodiment shows a pairof deflectable tab elements for each of the depending sides 34, it ispossible to utilize only one of such deflectable tab elements 38 inseparably or releasably uniting the cover section 16 to the tray section12. Furthermore, it will be understood that the shape and size of eachdeflectable tab element 38 may be varied to suit the particularsdesired.

Removal of the cover section 16 from the tray section 12 may be easilyeffected While the tray section 12 is either resting upon a supportingsurface or inclined slightly from a supporting surface. It will be seenthat since the longer side walls 24 of a tray section 12 support the topwall 22 thereof a predetermined distance above a supporting surface, itis a relatively simple matter to engage and move the deflectable tabelements from the cover section 16 out of locking engagement with thesmaller side walls 26 of the tray section. Thus, removal of the coversection 16 from its corresponding tray section 12 may be easily achievedwhile the tray section is resting on a supporting surface either in ahorizontal or in a slightly inclined position.

From the foregoing, it will now be appreciated that the presentinvention contemplates a package for storing and transporting individualcontainer units which may include a tray section by itself or a tray andcover section combination. Both the tray and cover section are easilyformed from one-piece cardboard or paperboard blanks and are capable ofassuming the shapes illustrated in the drawings through the use ofscoring techniques for delineating sides and side wall portions from thetop portions as well as adhesive or fastening techniques to secure thecorner portions of the cover section in the desired arrangement. Boththe covering wall of the cover section as well as the film or membraneelements associated with the container units in the illustratedembodiment may be imprinted with suitable indicia to identify themanufacturer and the type of product contained within the individualcontainer units.

The specific embodiments of the invention as herein shown and describedare to be understood as being illustrative only. Various changes instructure will no doubt occur to those skilled in the art and Will beunderstood as forming a part of this invention insofar as they fallwithin the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A package for storing and transporting individual container unitscomprising a tray section for receiving and supporting said containerunits, said tray section having a polygonal shape and including a topwall and side walls depending therefrom, said top wall being providedwith a plurality of adjacently positioned apertures for accepting acorresponding number of container units each having a rim portionadjacent an open upper end thereof, at least a part of the rim portionof each container having a transverse measurement greater than thelargest transverse dimension of the aperture with which it is to beassociated and adjacent apertures being spaced from each other by adistance which is suflicient to position the rim portions of adjacentcontainers in close nonengaged relationship with each other, each rimportion being configured to permit easy grasping thereof by a user inremoving individual container units from said tray section and includinga thin and flexible lid element for each container unit secured to therim portion of each container to protect its contents, at least twogenerally opposed portions of each thin and flexible lid elementextending beyond its corresponding container rim portion a sufficientdistance to permit engagement and deflection thereof below said rimportion by a user in removing container units from said tray section toprotect the pouring surfaces of said rim portion from contamination, andthe side walls of said tray section at least when resting upon asupporting surface having an axial height smaller than said containerunits, to support the top wall of said tray section a predetermineddistance above the supporting surface when the container units areresting thereupon to prevent accidental lateral dislodgement of saidcontainer units from said tray section while facilitating manual removalof said container units therefrom.

2. The package as defined in claim 1 wherein at least two opposing sidewalls of said tray section have an axial height smaller than other sidewalls which support the top wall of said tray section a predetermineddistance above a supporting surface, and a cover section for overlyingthe top wall of said tray section, said cover section having at leasttwo depending sides each capable of being aligned with one of thesmaller side walls of said tray section when said tray section and coversection are assembled to each other, the side walls of said tray sectionand sides of said cover section aligned with each other includingintegral locking means for retaining said cover section to said traysection against inadvertent removal while permitting easy separabilityof said tray section and cover section from each other.

3. The package as defined in claim 2 wherein in each integral lockingmeans includes at least one locking tab element which is capable ofbeing moved to a locking position beneath one of the smaller sides ofsaid tray section.

4. The package as defined in claim 1 wherein each thin and flexible lidelement extends beyond its associated container at a plurality oflocations which are arranged in quadrature relationship to provide aplurality of pairs of generally opposed portions which permit engagementand deflection of said generally opposed portions below the rim portionof the associated container by a user in removing container units fromsaid tray sections.

5. The package as defined in claim 1 including at least four containerunits positioned in corresponding apertures of the tray section, the rimportion of each container unit being provided with a configurationenabling each group of four adjacently positioned container units toprovide therebetween an opening suflicient to insert a users finger forengaging and removing said container units from said tray section.

6. The package as defined in claim 5 wherein the rim portion of eachcontainer unit is of octagonal configuration.

7. A package for storing and transporting individual container unitscomprising a tray section for receiving and supporting said containerunits, said tray section having a polygonal shape and including a topwall and at least two side walls depending therefrom on opposite sidesof said tray section, said top wall being provided with a plurality ofadjacently positioned apertures for accepting a corresponding number ofcontainer units each having a rim portion adjacent an open upper endthereof, at least a part of the rim portion of each container having atransverse measurement greater than the largest transverse dimension ofthe aperture with which it is to be associated to support said containerunits with their rim portions in contact with said top wall when saidpackage is transported and prevent inadvertent disasseciation of saidcontainer units relative to said top wall in one direction, said atleast two side walls of said tray section having an axial height smallerthan the axial height of the portion of said container units which isbeneath said top wall when said package is transported to support thetop Wall of said tray section a predetermined distance above a flatsupporting surface upon which the tray section and the container unitsare rested to prevent accidental lateral dislodgement of said containerunits from said tray section while permitting the top wall to movedownwardly and out of contact with said rim portions, therebyfacilitating manual removal of said container units therefrom.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS WILLIAM T. DIXSON, JR., PrimaryExaminer.

